Our Instructors

Glenda Garwood, our Ukulele and “Joyful Noisemakers” preschool instructor, was born and raised in Alaska where she met and married Paige Garwood. Paige and Glenda have been married since 1976. Music has been part of the fabric of family life from the beginning. Glenda began teaching preschool -K4 in the fall of 1995. God took her teaching into a new direction in fall of 2004 when she began teaching music for homeschooled children. Currently, she is teaching music at three different home school academies in the metro-Atlanta area to students from age 3 up to 4th grade. She also enjoys teaching private piano lessons to children from age 4-5 on up. Glenda has a passion to help your child discover a love for music and to find their own unique gifts. She believes music is a gift from God, to be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of ability.

Amy Gravitte, our Beginner and Intermediate Band director, as well as our Marching Band director, is a graduate of Dalton College and grew up as the daughter of a Minister of Music. Since music was a natural part of daily life, picking up several instruments was not uncommon. Amy marched 4 years at Dalton High School, playing the flute and piccolo. During this time, she traveled to many locations for competitions and exhibitions, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. She has taught music lessons privately as well as in a homeschool organization and is currently the Praise Band leader at Grace Church. Amy and her husband, who is also a musician, are passing their love of God and music to their 6 children.

Stephanie Holland, our Itty Bitty Noisemakers instructor, is a graduate of Georgia State University with a degree in Sociology. She has always been fascinated with cultures and traditions. Music has always played a part in her life with many accomplished musicians in her family. Stephanie married into a musical family. She and her husband have six children, all of whom are musically talented. Besides homeschooling her own children, Stephanie has taught other children in varied settings subjects ranging from adventure courses and creative movement to life skills for sixteen years. She believes music and memories are tied together whether God has given us talents for music or just an appreciation for it. She looks forward to helping our youngest make musical memories.

David Klausman, our Jazz instructor and one of our Worship Team instructors, received a music scholarship and graduated from Furman University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music, emphasis in Trumpet Performance, He has had the privilege to perform with the following artists: Aretha Franklin, Johnny Mathis, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, Olivia Newton-John, Lionel Hampton. David toured the 25th Anniversary Tour with the contemporary Christian group TRUTH and played with artists Ron Kenoly, “Annointed”, Pat Boone, Sheila E., Dave Boyer, and Babbie Mason. David started the VICTORY JAZZ ORCHESTRA, an 18 piece big band that really swings even today!

Lisa Klausman, one of our Worship Team instructors. Lisa, a vocalist and pianist, was born in the great state of Montana and began performing at a young age. The daughter of a Symphony Conductor, she studied violin and cello, then added piano and voice. After moving to Georgia, she studied voice with Frank Boggs of the Westminster Schools and Roger Beale of Atlanta Christian College. Lisa frequently performs for weddings, receptions, Ladies Retreats/Church Groups as a Worship Leader/Pianist and is a vocal coach, primarily working with groups interested in preparing for auditions and teaching stage/appearance skills. Lisa has extensive experience as a vocalist, including solo concerts in all venues, big band & jazz styling, and TV tapings for several church-related ministries. Two of her favorite roles she has performed include “Christine” from “Phantom of the Opera” for a Broadway Showcase fundraiser and “Martha Washington” from “Of Thee I Sing”, a community theater patriotic musical. She has experience as a professional studio singer, with emphasis in jingles/commercials/demos. Lisa has shared the stage with recording artists Babbie Mason, Lee Greenwood, Johnny Hall, Rita Graham, Craig A. Meyer, Robert Strickland and several others. Women's Ministry is near and dear to her heart, and worship of Jesus Christ is paramount. Since 2000, Lisa has recorded and released 5 solo projects. Her latest project, “Heritage” is available on iTunes and www.CDbaby.com. Lisa has toured with a major crusade team as vocalist. From 2012-2014, she served as Lead Worship Director/Choir Director at Mt. Calvary Baptist, Marietta. She has also been on Praise & Worship teams with Mt. Paran Church of God(Atlanta, Ga.), First Redeemer Church(Cumming, Ga.), Crowne Point Community Church(Kennesaw, Ga.), East Side Baptist Church(Marietta, Ga.), and is currently on staff at Kennesaw 1st Baptist Church as auxiliary Organist & Soloist.

Andrea Mattick, our Beginning 1 and 2 Orchestra and Intermediate Orchestra instructor, began playing the violin at the age of 3. She has always enjoyed music and as an adult has enjoyed teaching herself how to play the viola, cello, and the bass guitar. In addition to teaching, she enjoys using her musical gifts in church and to play for weddings and other special events. Andrea studied psychology in college, but later felt that God was calling her to become a violin instructor. She quickly realized that she had a passion to teach and a love for children. She began by taking several Suzuki teacher training courses and has been teaching for the past 13 years. She has taught orchestra, violin, and viola classes in local schools and currently maintains a private violin and viola studio out of her home. Her students have participated in MYSO, GYSO, Joyful Noise, Honors Orchestra, and All State. Andrea Is a wife and a home school mom. She has 3 children.

Chris Owenby, our Choral Instructor, is a composer and holds a Master of Music degree from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Music degree from LaGrange College. His music has been performed by the Goliard ensemble, the Northwestern College Choir, the Dekalb Choral Guild, the Flint River Trio, the Brass Standard, the LaGrange College Singers, the Sons of Lafayette, and members of the Atlanta, Columbus (Georgia), and LaGrange Symphony Orchestras. His music has received recognition at the College Music Society’s 2010 and 2011 National Conferences, the College Music Society's 2012 Southern Regional Conference, Vox Reflexa’s New Millenium Composer’s Forum CD Project, and the Dekalb Choral Guild’s 2009 Young Composer’s Competition. His music has been published by Emerson Music and Imagine Music publishing companies and has aired on National Public Radio, the Immanuel Broadcasting Network, White Dove Radio, and Bigloo Christian Radio among other stations. He has taught with Joyful Noise for several years and is much loved by his students.

James Palestrini, our Guitar Instructor, is a veteran guitar instructor who has been teaching and performing in and around Atlanta for the past 20 years. He is a graduate of The University of Georgia and received a degree in Classical Guitar Performance in 2004. He realized his passion for teaching while enrolled at UGA. Soon after graduating he went back to school to get certified in Music Education at Kennesaw State University. Since finishing his certificate in 2007 he has been the guitar instructor at Roswell High School. James also has been teaching private guitar lessons for the past 16 years. He currently runs his own private studio out of his home in Marietta. James is also a prolific performer of many styles of music. He currently is the lead guitarist in the only Soundgarden Tribute band in the United States…Rusty Cage.

Deborah Scarazzo, the director of our Elite and Advanced Bands and the woodwind ensemble, is an accomplished musician. In addition to Joyful Noise Band, Deborah has taught college music for 13 years at various schools, including North Georgia College and Reinhardt College. Her classes included Woodwind Private lessons, Symphonic Band, Chamber Ensemble, Flute Ensemble, Music Theory, Sight Singing, and Music Appreciation In addition she has worked with Middle School and High school Students for 6 years and her church choirs for 7 years. Her education includes a Master of Music Education Degree from Columbus State University, Graduate studies in flute performance at DePaul University, Bachelor of Music in flute performance from the University of Denver. She has studied flute with various master flutists in various settings. She is an active member at Christ the King Lutheran Church where she performs as flute soloist, in chamber ensembles, and serves as children’s choir musical director. Deborah is a member of the National Flute association, the Atlanta Flute Club, and Georgia Music Educators Association.

Dick Shackelford, our Advanced and Chamber Orchestra Instructor. Maestro Shackelford studied violin performance at University of Montana (Missoula), transferring to Montana State University to complete his Bachelor of Music Education as well as a Master is Music Education as well. He served as the String Teacher (One for 13 schools) in Helena, Montana, the state Capitol. While there he increased the school program from 22 students to 375 string students upon his departure. He also served as the Musical Director and Conductor of the Helena Symphony Society, comprised of a Symphony Orchestra and Chorus; the orchestra membership was only around 18 local players, while the choir rehearsed 70. The Symphony grew under his influence to approximately 60-70 players, while the choir had grown to 120. (Several of his students are now string teachers throughout the northwest states, one of whom succeeded in later years; by 2000; to take his former position, also duplicating his seat as President of the Montana String Teacher's Association.) While at his School of Theology in Anaheim he founded a worship orchestra, providing the instrumental backup to many Christian artists of the day. He was hired also by the Church's Christian school to teach Music Appreciation, as well as General Music. Upon completion of his first year he was invited to a Minister of Music position in Atlanta. Since that time, he has served in orchestral positions related to the church - Mount Paran Church, where he was the Director of Sound; Director of Computer Operations and Orchestra Director. His latest full-time position was with First Baptist of Atlanta, serving as Minister of Instrumental Music and Orchestra Director. Mr. Shackelford is gifted in classroom teaching, whose greatest calling is to draw from each musician MORE than what EACH one believes is possible; emphasizing self-esteem, self confidence, unity of purpose (For Sinfonia means literally, "to be as one.") with excellence and quality while having a tremendous amount of fun, ALL at the same time. He is presently serving as principal violist in the Johnson Ferry Baptist Church orchestra, as well a member in the string quartet. Maestro Shackelford is looking forward to serving you as YOUR Maestro!

Laurel Wilbanks, our recorder instructor, is a homeschooling mom who loves children and music. She began taking piano lessons when she was five years old using the Yamaha piano method which concentrates on ear training. She continued her studies through high school playing in her church and in recitals. She also played the flute, oboe, and played one season as a percussionist in her high school marching band. Laurel has taught children’s choir for over 15 years, and is very involved with her church choir. She taught recorder, children's chorus, and was an assistant band director for the beginning band at Grace Notes Homeschool Band for three years before joining us at Joyful Noise. She currently teaches intermediate and advanced recorder at Joyful Noise and is a band parent for the Marching Saints. She loves to impart the love of music in everything she is involved in.

Support Our Marching Saints!

Join us every Friday in the family waiting room for lunch and refreshments.